Yearly Archives: 2011

Growing up in New Jersey creates a person that is always on the move. When I opened up my shop, the last thing I wanted to do was spend money and time outfitting the shop with air filtration systems, create a complete dust and chip collection system as well as create separate workspace for the loudest machines. I had finally opened up my own shop and just wanted to get started with my first few projects. I was eager and …

For a long time, I was able to get away with cutting all of my Dado joints with a straight plunge router bit. Although not ideal, I was never able to justify the expense of purchasing this cutter. I would simply mark the depth and width of the cut, set up the depth of the cutter accordingly and then set up a fence to get a straight line. To achieve the right width of the cut, I would then move …

Boy scouts and carpenters have something very much in common. When they are out in the field, they aim to “always be prepared”. As a child I was in the boy scouts and learned that sometimes you just can’t predict when you will need something. So the next lesson learned is to improvise. As a carpenter, we are often in the field when we realize that we either forgot something back in the shop, or, as we all do sometimes, …

Although there are many carpentry joints you can use to avoid screws such as rabbet joints, or dovetail joints, occasionally time restraints, or skill level, will force you to use screws instead. In these cases, people will often use putty or store bought dowels to conceal the screws. This can lead to unattractive elements in your piece, or cause you to waste time trying to find the best way to blend the imperfections caused by the screws. There is another …

A few months ago, I got a phone call from my aunt. She told me that while visiting her sister’s house (my other aunt), she was amazed at what beautiful work I did with the set of three nesting tables I made for their 30th wedding anniversary. She loved them so much that she and my uncle wanted to commission me to build them an identical set. So like any normal person who gets a request from family, money is …

Have you ever opened your tool box to find that everything has been overturned, mixed up, and impossible to work with? Have you ever been in the middle of an inspiration or a time crunch to get something done and couldn’t find the most basic tools in your box? This has happened to me on more than one occasion, I am a little embarrassed to say and really, all it takes to create some order and reduce chaos is something …

We are hosting a Router Bits Woodworking Contest where the grand prize winner will get $500 worth of Tools of their choice from Toolstoday! The first 100 entrants will get a 10% discount on their next purchase at Toolstoday.com And your entries will be showcased on our site! To Enter the Contest Fill out the form on the contest page: http://www.toolstoday.com/contest.aspx – Send us a photo of your best wood piece. – Detail the creative way in which you shaped …

Back in the old days, woodworkers didn’t have the opportunities for design and planning that we now have. Nowadays, we have sophisticated computer modeling programs to accomplish this, but what if you couldn’t rely on this technology? When I first began my business, I, as well, had to rely on physical drawings, mental pictures, and experience to produce a project that had some planning involved. The problem was that I didn’t have any experience, other than the occasional project that …

There is nothing worse than to open your toolbox, expecting to find your router bit, saw blade, shaper cutter, or other cutting tool, and seeing that it is dull or even worse, coated with rust. If you live in a high humidity area, this problem can be even worse. Right in the middle of a project, you can find yourself wasting hours just trying to replace a poorly stored or misused cutter. Replacing them takes time, sometimes weeks, and cleaning …

When I started woodworking, it was not because I wanted to make great art. It was because I wanted to make a living at something that I liked to do. I thought – I can make a cabinet or a table – It’ all about getting each individual part to stick together in the way that I want. All I have to do is cut the parts to the right size and glue them together with wood glue! What I …